Penn State at Maryland College Basketball Picks & Predictions 12/1/2018

Saturday, December 1, 2018

Xfinity Center

Get todays College basketball odds and lines on this game.

The Penn State Nittany Lions head to Xfinity Center to take on the Maryland Terrapins on Saturday, December 1, 2018. The opening line for this game has Maryland as 4.5 point favorites.

Penn State heads into this matchup with a mark of 4-2. They currently have a point differential of 7.3 as they are averaging 71.5 points per contest while giving up 64.2 per game. Maryland has an overall record of 6-1. They are averaging 82.9 points per game and surrendering 67.4, good for a point differential of 15.4.

Valuable Penn State Nittany Lions Betting Trends

The Penn State Nittany Lions are 3-3-0 against the spread this season

The Penn State Nittany Lions are 1-5-0 against the over/under this year

Important Maryland Terrapins Betting Trends

The Maryland Terrapins are 2-5-0 against the spread this season

The Maryland Terrapins are 3-4-0 against the over/under this year

Key Penn State Nittany Lions Injuries

11/27/18 F Satchel Pierce Academics is out for first semester

Key Maryland Terrapins Injuries

No key injuries to report

Player Spotlight

Lamar Stevens comes into this game averaging 23.0 points per contest while playing 37.0 minutes per night this year. He grabs 8.7 rebounds per contest and distributes 2.0 assists per game. His FG percentage is 47% while his free throw percentage is 83%. Josh Reaves averages 10.8 points per contest in 31.0 minutes per game. He averages 3.3 assists per game and 5.5 rebounds per contest. His field goal percentage is 51% for the season while his free throw percentage is 83%.

Player Spotlight

Anthony Cowan scores 16.6 points per contest while playing 33.3 minutes per game. He hauls in 4.4 rebounds per contest and has 4.6 assists per game on the season. His FG percentage is 47% and his free throw percentage is at 80%. Bruno Fernando averages 15.9 points per game this year and he sees the court an average of 25.3 minutes per game. He also brings in 9.6 rebounds per game and has 1.1 assists per contest. His field goal percentage is 77% and his free throw percentage is 61%.

Useful Team Statistics

Penn State averages 71.5 points per contest, which is 255th in D-1. Their average scoring margin is 7.3 and their shooting percentage is 43% as a unit, which has them ranked 269th. From 3-point territory they shoot 32%, which is good for 237th in the nation. They average 37.2 boards per contest and 12.2 assists per game, which ranks them 178th and 263rd in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they are 189th with 13.5 per game. The Nittany Lions allow 64.2 points per contest, which is 47th in the NCAA. They also surrender a 42% shooting percentage and a 27% average from 3-point range, ranking them 135th and 26th in defensive field goal percentage. Opponents average 34.2 rebounds a game which ranks 137th, and they allow 10.5 assists per game which puts them in 47th place in the country. They force 14.8 turnovers per game which ranks them 214th in Division 1.

Useful Team Statistics

Maryland is 49th in the nation with 82.9 points per contest this season. They are 18th in the country in shooting at 51%, while their average scoring margin is 15.4. They shoot 32% from beyond the arc, which is good for 233rd in the NCAA. They are 26th in D-1 in rebounding with 42.6 boards per contest and 52nd in assists per game with 16.4. The Terrapins are 181st in turnovers per contest with 13.6. The Terrapins give up 67.4 points per game, which ranks them 98th in Division 1. Their defense surrenders a 40% shooting percentage and a 31% average from behind the 3-point line, ranking them 66th and 101st in those defensive statistics. They rank 128th with 12.1 dimes allowed per game and 8th with 27.9 boards surrendered per contest. The Terrapins are 24th in the nation in forcing turnovers with 11.3 per contest this year.

Advanced Statistics

The Nittany Lions have an offensive rating of 102.4, which is ranked 210th. They are 290th in college basketball in pace with 68.4 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 50% is 244th. As a unit they are 239th in the nation in true shooting percentage with 53% and they shoot 3-pointers on 44% of their shot attempts, ranking 53rd in D-1. Penn State is 172nd in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 16.6 times per 100 possessions.

Advanced Statistics

Maryland is 199th in college basketball in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 16.1 times per 100 possessions. The Terrapins are 21st in the country in offensive rating with 116.9. In terms of pace they are 189th in Division 1 with 70.9 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 56% is 47th. As a team they are 59th in D-1 in true shooting percentage with 59% and they shoot 3-pointers on 35% of their shots, ranking 264th in the nation.

Who will win tonight's Penn State/Maryland college basketball game against the spread?

Tony's Pick: Take Penn State +4.5

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